President Donald Trump will deliver a speech on Thursday evening at 9 p.m. Eastern time, during which he will claim that newly declassified intelligence reveals foreign interference in the 2020 presidential election. The speech, previewed on Truth Social, will reportedly be based on declassified information and is expected to include officials such as CIA Director John Ratcliffe, acting Director of National Intelligence Bill Pulte, FBI Director Kash Patel, and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin.
Core Facts and Developments
- Trump’s Speech: President Trump will address the nation on Thursday, July 13, at 9 p.m. Eastern time, to present claims of foreign interference in the 2020 election based on declassified intelligence.
- Declassified Intelligence: The claims will be supported by newly declassified intelligence reports, according to White House officials cited by MS Now.
Deeper Dive and Context
Background on 2020 Election Interference
A 2021 U.S. intelligence assessment concluded that no foreign actor altered any technical aspect of the 2020 election, including voter registrations, ballots, tabulations, or results. However, the report found that Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized influence operations aimed at boosting Trump’s candidacy and undermining public confidence in the U.S. electoral process. China considered but ultimately decided against conducting influence operations, while Iran pursued a multi-pronged covert influence campaign to undercut Trump’s candidacy.
Trump’s Claims and Legal Challenges
Trump has repeatedly claimed without evidence that he won the 2020 election due to widespread fraud. Numerous courts, ballot audits, and his first-term Justice Department found no evidence of widespread fraud that could have affected the outcome. Despite these findings, Trump’s claims have fueled efforts to increase federal oversight of election administration, which legal experts argue would violate the U.S. Constitution by taking power away from states.
Official Responses and Reactions
The White House has not yet provided a comment on the upcoming speech. The Independent has reached out for further details. The speech is expected to be a significant moment in the ongoing debate over election integrity and foreign interference in U.S. elections.